The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1887-05-21

veiled bitterness in the young, light tones.
"You have great consideration for Liian's
comfort, fr. Yorke, and precious little for
mine. Kind Of you, I'm sure.''
Kenneth Yorke bites his lip for a second
at the saftsstic flash of the dark eyes which
ends the little speech, then laughs good
naturally.
Il know It," he assents provokingly,
but don't thank me, Oliyette. Even your
gratitude'would be too oppressive just now.
Comet let's talk of the party last night.
That's the most refreshing subject | can
think Of j want your opinion as to who
was the par excellence of the evening.
Now think your cousin Lillian was en-
chantingin her white-and-slyer with blue
violets ih her yellow hair"
So theS fall to discussing the brilliant af-
fair of tie previous evening: and, having
once interested Oliyette in his subject, she
forgets hF satirical mood and talks on
brightly, with freshness and sparkle in
her conversation and in her husky, piquant
little face Which never fails to charm and
amuse the somewhat world-weary man be-
side her..
He listens with queer sensation at his
heart, however, to her comments on one
whose name he has brought up purposely-
a handsome, gallant young fellow who
claimed OlRette's pretty little band last
night in too many dances to quite please
Mr.. Yorke, who found It difficult to secure
her for even asingle waltz.
Charlie IrvingP" she echoes sweetly, at
the me etion of his name. "Yes," very
warmly, while soft, thoughtful light
comes into her beautiful dark eyes, che is
splendid fellow. So kind and attentive,
and fine-looking, too; and, oh! doesn't he
waltz divinekr'
| This, and much more in the same en-
thusisstc vein, until Kenneth half angrily
wishes she would stop, and heartily regrets
having bought the attractive young man
to her memory at all.
"ChaHie and have known and-and
liked each other for years." she says, ere
'lismisslpg the subject, soft rose-Aush
crossing her cheek as she makes that en-
barrasseh and--as Kenneth fancied-sig
nillcant pause In the middle of the SEN
tence.
He glsnces curiously into the leYely face
all allglt with the girlish blush that just
now makes it doubly charming.
"Confpund the fellow" he thinks, al
most sasagely. "Can it be that she loves
him? Psbaw"-smiling at his own folly as
he studies the cbangeful, sparkling face
''the little witch has never learned the
meaning of that word. yet"
And 10 ''make assurance doubly sure"
he skillfuly leads the talk into the realms
of poetry and loye-lore, finding ere long
that Olivette has taken deep glimpses Of
hat ideal world, and has thoughts of her
own upon it that surprise him.
All unconsciously, poor Olivette is led on
TO betray some of her hidden, .undreamed-
Of heart-thoughts, until Kenneth, reckless
ly connecting 1t all with what she has said
of Charlie Irving, suddenly springs to his
feet and confronts her with pale, startled
face and look of intense regret and pain
in his usually smiling blue eyes.
Good heavens, O'ivetter' he cries, in
strange, hollow, Mortified voice that makes
her look up quickly with wave of hot
color surging over her dusky little face un-
til it glows redder than roses heart. IL
have always looked upon you as little more
than child, you seemed so gay.so thought
less. hardly dreamed that the little
sprite who teased and quarreled with me,
who fitted about like a dazzling butterfly
woman's heart-could love Oh, child! is
it possible that you haye-"
But his last word is uttered to the birds
aud butterflies only; for, with her great
dark eyes flashing fire and that shamed,
crimson flood dyeing her cheeks until il
fairly burns them, she has fled from him
like the wind, and never stops until she
has reached an arbor at the other end of
the garden, where she sinks down painting
and trembling under a tempest of emotions
that only woman's heart-only a wo-
mans hurt, insulted pride could haye
aroused.
''Oh, Heavenr' she murmurs bitterly,
leaning her head upon her trembling little
hands, as she recalls his words, his startled,
Mortified looks. II have betrayed how
much IL care for him, and he-he pities
me for it, and tried to warn me, to make
me understand that he thinks of me only
as child-a butterHy''-with intense Bit
terness-'while he loves Lillian and in
tends to marry her."
There is long silence. during which the
slight, tissue-draped form quivers until the
gold7hued folds of the gown, catching the
sunset rays that stream in through the ar
Dor door, glitter like the veritable metal
whose color it bears.
Then she rises to her feet and throws
back that dusky little head of hers with a
queenly pride that is inlmitable. Her face
is very white now, and her great dark eyes
are glowing like living Goals.
Il will show him how mistaken he has
been," she mutters, her little white teeth
closing over the words like grim fate ITSELF |
IL will die before / will let Kenneth Yorke
pity me! Let him love and marry Lillian;
yes, and let him spend his dull hours in
her presence, too. He'll not get me to
amuse him any more when he fears she
will get tired of his company"
'IIe came here to marry Lillian, any
way" she goes on after q moment, stlAing
little sob. "rm certain that's just what
Uncle Channirg brought him to the villa
for. Lilan's his fsvorite niece, and is 60
ing to be his helress, because she's gentle
and ladylike, and is a Claiming; while my
poor mother ran away to get married, and
Pm just 'Oliver Hurst all over again. as
uncle says. But don'tcare; I'm glad
am like my father. And he thinks Ken